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Apple HomePod smart speaker delayed until 2018

Delayed: Apple's new HomePod speaker won't be released before 2018: Apple
Delayed: Apple's new HomePod speaker won't be released before 2018: Apple

Apple has delayed the launch of the HomePod smart speaker.

The tech company was due to release its next piece of home hardware in December.

Now the arrival of HomePod has been pushed back to early 2018, with no month or date set.

The speaker is set to feature in-built Siri, making it a competitor to Amazon’s Echo and Google Home.

A statement from the company says: “We can't wait for people to experience HomePod, Apple's breakthrough wireless speaker for the home, but we need a little more time before it's ready for our customers.

“We'll start shipping in the US, UK and Australia in early 2018.”

The speaker was confirmed earlier in 2017, with a view to hitting the shelves before Christmas.

The delay comes after Apple successfully launched three new phones in recent weeks.

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus arrived in late September, followed by the iPhone X in November.

Once it’s ready, the HomePod will be able to stream music, as well as control smart home devices through voice command.

The speaker will connect to the iPhone’s Home app, and will act as a HomeKit hub for Apple-compatible wifi-enabled products.